What's your opinion?

Sergei · « **on:** 28 Aug 2009, 11:46 pm »

I'm curious what others think. A colleague of mine recently observed a professional reviewer extensively audition a product entirely at 50 - 55db and no higher.

Any comments about such a practice?

konut · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Aug 2009, 11:51 pm »

Needs more practice.

some young guy · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Aug 2009, 11:59 pm »

What? Say again... sorry.

I have an amp with a single gain stage and it sounds the same at 50db as it does at 150db. That said, I listen more at 150db than I do at 50db. Most can't say that and therefor won't realize the full sound potential of their equipment at such a low volume IMHO.

doug s. · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Aug 2009, 06:47 am »

huh? what's that you said? could you speak up? i can't hear you!

doug s.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #4 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 12:34 am »

Sure it's valid. Absolutely.

But I also purchase $40,000 vehicles based on the opinion of a reviewer that's never taken the vehicle over 15MPH. Everything above that doesn't matter. I have the super-human ability to determine the entire capabilities of an automobile simply by idling through my subdivision.

55dB? Really. Seriously? You're kidding right?
Maybe he's testing the noise floor of his listening room.

Bob

Mariusz · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 02:44 am »

Locking. Especially when it's coming from the reviewer.
I would be concerned with validity of speakers and amplifiers evaluation under such conditions the most.

Mariusz

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 03:20 am »

I knew two people like that. Neither were reviewers, but they both took music seriously and spent a healthy sum on their systems only to listen at incredibly soft volumes. There is no right or wrong listening level.

Mariusz · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 03:50 am »

In listening - no, but reviewing/evaluating - yes. IMHO
( noise, distortion, clipping, limitations of the components(amps) or speakers etc.)

Mariusz

Sergei · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 08:21 pm »

Mariusz makes a very good point. But there's also tons of music that simply can never manifest at such low levels including ambient information, overtones, harmonics, etc..

I think Bob said it best. How can any sane person offer anything of substance by test driving a car much less a Ferrari while only driving 20 mph?

This may be the single most absurd and asinine thing I've heard by a so-called professional in high-end audio. Imagine the damage this guy can cause reviewing what could be an otherwise superior or inferior product but he'd never know it.

BTW, supposedly this 50 - 55db listening levels included listening to recorded live performances and the reviewer is attached to what some consider the most respected internet publication.

-S

Mariusz · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 08:39 pm »

During one of the recent NY Raves I brought one of my DIY speakers (monitors) and MiniWatt amp which I really like. The room it was setup in was huge considering that it opens up to the dinning room and kitchen. Under such conditions, pushing the amp to its limits was just a matter of time.
Playing some brute and demanding tracks pushed the amp into clipping either tho my speakers are somewhat efficient (90db+). Even 25wpc amp had problems and also clipped.
Moving speakers to much smaller room cured the problems tho.

Mariusz

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 09:04 pm »

So he's listening in the bathroom?

I'd have to check to see if my SPL meter even goes down to 50dB. Not sure on that one.

Bob

Mariusz · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 09:08 pm »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 30 Aug 2009, 09:04 pm

So he's listening in the bathroom?
I'd have to check to see if my SPL meter even goes down to 50dB. Not sure on that one.

Bob

At lease he is in the sweet spot.

As to SPL meter:
I am sure it does but that might be its lower limits.

Mariusz

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #12 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 10:55 pm »

I've never thought of the "throne" as the sweet spot, but okay....

By the way, I checked my meter, it goes down to 60Hz. Way below anything that's relevant to me...Maybe with the exception of measuring the noise floor in my room. But I would certainly hope the noise floor is far below that, but that's a story for another day. Actually, now that I think about it, I wonder what the noise floor is of that fella that's "testing" equipment at 50-55dB?
I hope it's pretty low.

Bob

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #13 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 11:10 pm »

Sergei....

Quote

A colleague of mine recently observed a professional reviewer extensively audition a product entirely at 50 - 55db and no higher.

Any hints to who this was ?

maxwalrath · « **Reply #14 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 11:49 pm »

can someone play their system at 50-55 db and describe how quiet that is? it doesn't sound feasible.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #15 on:** 30 Aug 2009, 11:58 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 30 Aug 2009, 11:10 pm

Any hints to who this was ?

Helen Keller.

Quote from: maxwalrath on 30 Aug 2009, 11:49 pm

can someone play their system at 50-55 db and describe how quiet that is? it doesn't sound feasible.

Me either. But if my meter went down that low, I'd give it a shot for sure.

Bob

fido · « **Reply #16 on:** 31 Aug 2009, 10:47 pm »

What "product" was he/she reviewing??